The Dodo Archive

Cat Missing For 8 Years Reunited With Owner

A cat who has spent the bulk of his life separated from his owners has now returned home, after disappearing for nearly a decade. Jesse, a ginger and white cat, escaped from his vet's office during a routine visit in May 2006, when the cat was just 18 months old. His owner, Lesley Corbett, never gave up hope as she waited eight years -- yes, eight -- for her pet to return. Now, it seems as though that hope has paid off: at the end of February, Corbett received a call from her vet, saying that Jesse was finally coming home.

"[I was] a bit shocked to say the least," Corbett told the BBC. "[But] we always hoped he was being looked after somewhere and, at some point, he might find his way back home."

Corbett said that the vet contacted her after a client brought Jesse in, having noticed him "hanging around" the veterinary practice. The cat had been microchipped before he ran away, which allowed the vet to find Corbett quickly to deliver the good news. According to an employee at the practice, they've never seen a cat return after being missing for so long.

"We have absolutely no idea where he's been," Corbett said. "All we know is he's happy and healthy."